Extra Board
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February 1, 2018
Collecting Penn Central Models: 1968-1976
Being a new railroad during a boom period in model railroading benefited Penn Central and the HO enthusiast during the late 1960s and first half of the 1970s, with offerings both factual and fantasy from a variety of manufacturers.
January 2, 2018
From Current to Classic?
When does something in your life go from being current everyday over to nostalgic memory? I can pinpoint when my interest in older model trains was sparked and when I began to see those items in a different light.
January 2, 2018
Preserved Freelance: Allegheny Midland 3101
I spotted this locomotive in the estate of an elderly gentleman downsizing his life’s collection. It turned out to be brass, an Alco at that, and I recognized the road name…
December 8, 2017
My Memories of AHM: The Rivarossi Connection
I would guess that even today serious model railroaders would be few and far between who never owned some Rivarossi model train equipment. This Italian company, now part of international conglomerate Hornby, manufactured for years in the resort town of Lake Como, Italy, on the border of Switzerland.
November 29, 2017
Alco Models 1967 Wish Book
This year marks the 50th anniversary of another great wish book that brass importer Alco Models launched in late 1967. The company is familiar to many seasoned modelers. Alco Models was a mainstay in the hobby for a number of years, peaking in the late 1960s and continuing into the 1980s.
August 1, 2017
Mighty-Mite: Plymouth CR-4 Diesel from TYCO/Mantua
Plymouth Locomotive Works’ CR-4 diesel-hydraulic locomotive of the 1960s, and the HO-scale model of it made by TYCO/Mantua, have been a topic of interest to collectors for many years.
July 11, 2017
Athearn Blue Box Era Timeline
The purpose and goal of this HO Collector presentation is to provide a chronological listing of HO-scale diesel locomotive models produced by Athearn during the company’s “Blue Box” era. Consider this to be an introduction or general survey of those well-known Athearn models and not an in-depth examination of any particular one.
May 31, 2017
Unusual All-Door Boxcars: Pullman-Standard Prototypes
The all-door concept for boxcars had the goal of taking this common freight car type and opening up its sides to provide the easier access of a flatcar. The design intent was to combine the better freight handling offered by flatcars with the protection provided by a boxcar. Evaluation and ultimate adoption of the prototypes appears to favor the lumber industry, though the cars were promoted as ideal for a variety of uses when unveiled in the 1960s.
May 10, 2017
Krauss-Maffei ML-4000 Diesel-Hydraulic
For the budding model railroader of the 1970s, the AHM (Associated Hobby Manufacturers) production line was a staple. While each of us may have a particular favorite, AHM’s Krauss Maffei (K-M) ML-4000 diesel-hydraulic locomotive certainly resides near the top of the list for many a seasoned hobbyist.
April 25, 2017
TYCO Preprods
Ever daydream about the mayhem and creativity you’d unleash, if given the keys to a factory’s resources and R&D department for a day? The answers, such as they are, may be found in the true rarities of HO collecting: factory prototypes, pre-production samples, and one-off proposals. The challenge lies in authenticating such examples, if at all possible.
